In Search of The World’s Best Hair Ties
An Honest Hair Ties Review
When I started looking for hair ties online, I must have read 15 reviews on “the best hair ties” where none of the “authors” even tested the damn hair ties! Therefore I took it upon myself to conduct my own review.
After thorough research and extensive testing, I’ve compiled my honest and candid evaluation of a dozen different hair ties, elastics and ponytail holders. Based on these results, I’ve determined which I believe are truly the best hair ties.
The Backstory On This Evaluation
As two guys growing long hair for the first time in our late 20s and early 30s, we started using hair ties out of necessity (i.e. to get our damn hair out of our face). Exploring our options in the women’s hair care aisle at various retail stores, we were unimpressed.
Searching online for better hair ties, we found one “hair ties review” after another where the author apparently hadn’t even used or tested the hair ties. Most of these turned out to be affiliate links and big-brand SEO tactics.
We didn’t get any closer to finding the best hair ties, but it became clear: if we wanted better hair ties, we’d have to make them ourselves.
The Best Hair Ties
The Basic Rounders
- Basic
- Come in packs of 10-1,000
- Don’t look overly feminine
- Really cheap
- Snap easily
- Sharp edges when stretched and twisted
- Kink your hair
- Thousands vanish annually with no plausible explanation
Comments:
The Rubber Rounders
- Don’t slip out as easily
- Don’t look feminine
- Don’t form a sharp edge
- Instead they yank the hair out of your skull
- Kink your hair
- May cut off the circulation to your wrist resulting in amputation
Comments:
The Coil Rounders
- Don’t break as easily
- Slices your hair cuticles open
- Damages hair
- Kinks hair
- Twinkly
Comments:
The Weavers
- Very flexible
- Little pressure on the hair
- No yanking
- Reasonable hold
- Hair can get caught in the weave and get pulled out
- Still some sharp edges when stretched and twisted
- Slips off easily
- Stretch out quickly
Comments:
The Rounded Flats
- Strong hold
- Solid construction
- Flat design doesn’t kink your hair as much
- Sharp edges when stretched and twisted
- Can feel bulky in your hair
- Snap under any considerable weight
Comments:
The Spiked Flats
- Strong hold
- Surprisingly gentle
- Benefits of the the rounded flats
- Extra friction points cause additional stress on your hair
- Pulls hair out on removal
- Still form sharp edges when stretched and twisted
- Snap under any considerable weight
- Not great on your wrist
Comments:
The Nylon Rollers
- Very soft, little stress on the hair
- Flatter design doesn’t kink your hair as much
- Removal is easy, no yanking
- Not prone to snapping
- Stretching and twisting doesn’t create a sharp edge
- Stretch out somewhat quickly
- Basically useless when wet
- Limited holding power
- Not best for strenuous activities
Comments:
The Scrunchis
- They hold your hair
- Looser hold
- Very frilly
- Pink with polka dots
- Called a scrunchi
- Likely to get you confused for a teenage girl
Comments:
The Spirals
- Not overly tight on your hair
- Virtually no kinkage
- Little stress on your hair
- They’re a little different
- Can’t pull them very tight
- Not as snug of hold
- Vinyl causes friction against your hair
- Can get tangled in your hair under certain conditions
Comments:
The Ribbon Flats
- No sharp edges
- Gentle on the hair
- Won’t snap
- Printed with designs
- Not the greatest hold
- Nylon material wears out
- Designs are mostly girly
- Smaller loops can be tight around the wrist
Comments:
The Garter
- Makes a statement
- Demonstrates commitment
- Ensures other party-goers will know who’s boss
- Limited availability
- Strong box-out move and the possibility of combat to acquire
- Likely to be removed after a short time for hair whipping
- Literally a female undergarment on your head
- Not suitable outside of the wedding environment
Comments:
What These Hair Ties Have In Common
Of all the hair ties we found, tested and reviewed….no thought was apparently taken for men with long hair. These were all purchased in the women’s hair care aisle (except the garter, which was purchased in a different women’s aisle), and they’re all designed and marketed for women.
Which is all fine and good…but where are the hair ties for guys?
Early Prototypes
In our search for the best hair ties, we finally began making our own.
Testing different materials, binding techniques, printing options and other variables, we arrived at the crossroads of simplicity, comfort and functionality.
The Making of The World’s Best Hair Ties
Our quest to make an idea real continued. In this rare documentary footage, follow The Longhairs through our production team meetings, from prototypes, to factory samples, through patience and disappointment, to the moment when you can see the look in El Rubio’s eyes: we finally got it.
Capped off with the original announcement and invitation to the Hair Ties For Guys launch party in December, 2015, this is the history of the world’s best hair ties.